REC Employment Survey - How Employers See the Next Few Months

24 Nov 2017

The Recruitment & Employment Federation have released their findings from the October survey and the results are a mixed bag for sure.

Overall employer confidence in the economy remains low with 33% of employers believing the economic conditions in the country, as a whole, are getting worse. However, despite this, 31% have confidence in hiring and investment decisions getting better.

This is reflected by employer confidence in increasing their permanent headcount in the short-term (92%) and mid-term (89%). The bulk of this confidence appears to lie with medium sized businesses. Workforce planning statistics also back this up with 40% of respondents stating that they would not have the resources to cope with an upturn in demand and another 40% stating they only have a little spare resource to cope, both groups most likely needing to hire additional staff to cope with the demand.

For workers, this is arguably good news as this should help increase the number of opportunities available to them. In further good news, 58% of respondents also stated that they have increased pay/earnings for staff in the last 3 months. This is spread evenly across both the private & public sectors.

What does this mean for Recruiters?

Engineering and Technical ranks 3rd amongst employers for anticipated skills shortages in the coming months/years. With 44% of respondents stating they would use recruiters for permanent roles and 38% for temporary roles, recruiters will still play an important part in ensuring employers have the right levels of staffing during peak times.

40% of employers also anticipate a temp shortage for the roles they are trying to fill with 21% saying that over half of their temps will be offered permanent contracts in the future.

The criteria being used by employers to decide which agencies to source temporary workers from include Quality of Service (89%), Agency Expertise (78%) and Price (73%). With many employers expecting to hold or possibly increase the number of temps they require, now is the time for recruiters to be at the top of their game in sourcing workers for employers.

Overall, 53% of respondents were fairly satisfied (17% were very satisfied) with agencies and 10% providing a dissatisfactory service. This was very similar to the satisfaction they found in the candidates provided by agencies (16% very satisfied, 53% satisfied and 9% dissatisfied). Whilst the statistics show a generally positive attitude towards agencies, there is still room for improvement.

How Can Ambitek Help?

With over 7 years’ experience of recruiting in the Manufacturing Engineering sector, Ambitek’s expertise in hiring highly skilled workers will ensure that if your company does require experienced, time served professionals for any of your manufacturing or engineering roles, we can fulfil your requirements to the highest quality and at a reasonable price.

If you do require staff, or would like to speak to us about your potential needs in 2018 then don’t wait until the new year, call us now on

0161 850 0834 to speak to a member of our recruitment team.

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What Candidates Say

I'd also like to take the chance to thank you for all your help during my time with Ambitek. I have always been paid on time and any worries I had were sorted out incredibly quickly either by yourself or your colleagues. Thank you for making my time as a contractor as painless as possible. I would certainly have no qualms about being employed by your agency again sometime in the future. Although obviously not any time soon!!!!

I contacted Ambitek last year about employment. They quickly responded and helped me get a job! I now have a full time job thanks to Ambitek and their staff. They have always paid me on time and have always been there to help me if I needed any advice! Now me and my family are doing great all thanks to Ambitek.

"Hi, hope your all set for Xmas just wanted to say thanks to you and all the staff at Ambitek. You have all been ace this year sorting out my wages and holiday pay and the rest, it's been a real pleasure working for you this year and can't thank you enough for getting me the job in the first place it really pulled me out of it when I was down and to say I appreciate it is an understatement

Hi, thank you for having me work for Ambitek, it’s been a pleasure

Hi, just wanted to say thank you for all your help placing me, as today I signed a permanent contract. The agency have been fantastic and in the future I wouldn't hesitate in contacting you if I need a job or recommending you to others. Once again, thank you and I would like to wish you all the best for the future. (One happy customer!)

Hi, don't know if they informed you but I got a full time contract this week, thanks to you and your team for everything mate I'd be nowhere without Ambitek.